Photoshop

Want to learn how to add this dreamy effect to your photos? Great, cause that's what we're doing.

First, I must say that I use these techniques not because they are right, or because they are the only way, but this is the way I like to do it. So feel free to experiment and find what you are comfortable with. I have taken dozens of techniques and meshed them into one way that I am comfortable with, so no way is the wrong way, just have fun. Also, I'm working in Photoshop Elements 6 but this should work for all Photoshop programs.

First, let's start with our original picture. I make any adjustments to the photo prior to doing this technique.

Then we want to save it as a new file. You will then duplicate the image (ctrl+j). Change the copy to screen mode. Here's where to find mode.


Once we have our screen mode copy, we want to remove all color. Go to enhance, adjust color, remove color.
Once you have removed all the color, duplicate it two more times. (ctrl+j). Click on your first newly duplicated copy (there will be a 1 and 2 next to the copies). Once clicked, go to filter/blur/Gaussian blur. We are are going to adjust the blur to whatever number you like. For images that don't have a view of the face, so a background or the back of a person, I use a higher blur number like 9. But when the person's face is in view, like with this picture, I go with a lower number like 3 or 4. However, this is totally up to you.

Now we are going to go to our second newly duplicated image, again go to filter/blur/Gaussian blur and this time we will choose a slightly higher number than the previous number. Again, totally up to you. And voila, our image is dreamy. Now you'll to flatten your image or merge visible, whichever your preference.


Now comes another fun part. You can play around with your image. Either add a grungy frame, or pretty frame or you can darken the edges. An easy peasy way to darken edges is to use the burn tool. So let's get started. The burn tool is the little tool on your tool bar that looks like a hand. Change the size to something really large like 600+, midtones (or whichever you prefer) and I like to use a lower opacity like 40-60%. Then I just go around the edges in a rounded motion. You can do as little or as much as you'd like.

A little



A lot.

I'd love to see what you've done if you feel like sharing. Post on your blog and let me know or send me an email! Enjoy.